Home > Learning Guide > 17 Best Apps to Learn German Quickly at Home (2021)

17 Best Apps to Learn German Quickly at Home (2021)

Chad Emery September 30, 2021 Learning Guide

Want to learn German? As one of the most spoken languages in the world, there are a lot of ways to study German online. Not all of them will actually help you become fluent though. That’s why I created this list of the 17 best apps to learn German.

By using the apps on this list, you’ll learn everything from reading and writing to listening and speaking. Some of the apps focus on improving specific skills like vocabulary and grammar while others have more comprehensive courses. Whether you use one app on this list or multiple, these German learning apps are the best ones available today!

What Are The Best Apps To Learn German?

I love testing and reviewing language apps, and I’ve used over 50 of them on my language learning journey. To make this list of the best apps to learn German, I did more than just test them myself though.

I looked at the prices, features, and content quality and compared my experience of using the apps with other users’ experiences on major review sites, like Trustpilot and g2.

I did all of this to find the apps that will actually help you learn conversational German, not just a few fun words and phrases.

All of the apps on this list will help you take one big step towards becoming fluent in German, whether you’re planning a trip to Germany or want to live there someday. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the list!

Babbel

Overall Best App to Learn German

Babbel is the overall best app to learn German because it has a complete course that goes from complete beginner to conversational. The content is super high quality and helpful, and the lessons follow a logical order.

The lessons are also different from other apps that just play audio and have you repeat it. Babbel lessons have you actively make choices, put together phrases, and practice speaking with voice recognition technology.

Because of this, you learn to actually communicate in German, not just memorize random words and phrases! You can learn more about the app in this Babbel review.

Key Features

• German linguists built the course from scratch
• Practice all communication skills at the same time
• Learn how Germans actually speak so you sound more natural
• Lessons are interactive and engaging to help you remember everything

Pricing

A Babbel subscription costs $12.95 per month, but it gets a lot cheaper if you buy a longer subscription. Babbel also offers a 20-day money back guarantee in case you change your mind.

Sign up now for a free lesson with Babbel to start learning German today.

Mondly

Best Beginner German App

Mondly is the best German app for beginners because it focuses on teaching you the basics quickly. Instead of overwhelming you with difficult grammar and advanced topics, Mondly helps you master the basics of German conversations.

You can choose the order you want to complete the lessons in and they’re all interactive. Mondly also has other tools to help you practice speaking German, like a chatbot and virtual reality (VR) scenarios. Learn more about the app in this Mondly review.

Key Features

• Flexible course lets you choose the lessons you want to do
• Track your learning statistics to see your progress
• Includes grammar notes to quickly learn important concepts
• Uses augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to help you learn

Pricing

Mondly has both a free and premium version. In the free version, you can access some of the content and try out a few lessons. To access the whole course and additional features, you can get a premium subscription. This starts at $9.99 per month, but there are discounts for longer subscriptions.

Try Mondly free for 7 days to see if it’s the German app for you!

MosaLingua

Best App to Learn German Language and Culture

MosaLingua is the best app for learning both the German language and culture. In fact, you learn the language by immersing yourself in German culture with MosaLingua.

Culture is an aspect that a lot of language apps don’t include. This is a shame because it’s a really important aspect of any language. And that’s why MosaLingua focuses on it.

MosaLingua uses a huge variety of flashcards to teach you important words and phrases, but it offers a lot more. From videos, music, and even complete ebooks, MosaLingua lets you experience German culture firsthand while learning.

You can also automatically add vocabulary to your list from anywhere on the web. To see more of what MosaLingua has to offer, check out this review.

Key Features

• Quickly learn essential words and phrases in German
• Easily find tools and resources to immerse yourself in the language
• Create custom vocabulary lists using any website you want
• Excellent quality offered for a low price compared to other apps

Pricing

A subscription to MosaLingua costs $4.99 per month. You can also get a yearly subscription for $59.90.

Sign up to try MosaLingua free for 15 days!

italki

Best German App for Speaking

One of the best German learning apps to practice speaking is italki. There are over 650 online German teachers available on italki, and they’re all ready to help you learn the language.

Because there are so many German tutors, italki lets you filter them based on other languages they speak, where they’re located, what qualifications they have, and more.

italki is the best way to practice German with native speakers because you decide what to practice during your lessons. Plus, most tutors offer cheap trial lessons so you can find your perfect match. Learn more in this italki review.

Key Features

• Search and filter high-quality German tutors
• Discounts available on trial lessons and when you book multiple lessons
• Focus on what you actually want to learn
• The italki platform is safe and secure

Pricing

German tutors on italki set their own prices for lessons. They can range anywhere from $5.00 to $50.00+ per hour. If you just want to practice conversation skills, you’ll pay less. More specialized classes are on the higher end of that range.

Most tutors also let you book trial lessons for 50% off their normal price. This is a great reason to try out a few different tutors to find the one you like best.

Try italki and sign up for a discounted trial lesson today.

GermanPod101

Best German Podcast App

GermanPod101 is the perfect option if you’re looking to improve your listening skills. The lesson topics cover everything you need to know about communicating in everyday situations.

It’s more than just a podcast though. GermanPod101 also has video and text lessons to interact more with the language. It also has flashcards, quizzes, and even personalized guidance from a private German tutor.

Key Features

• Thousands of lessons give you something new to learn everyday
• Set up a personalized study plan with a German tutor
• Text, audio, and video lessons teach you how to navigate everyday situations
• Additional practice exercises reinforce what you learn in the lessons

Pricing

GermanPod101 offers a free version, as well as three premium subscription types: Basic, Premium, and Premium+. A basic subscription to GermanPod101 costs $8.00 per month, but the price can go down to $4.00 per month if you get a longer subscription. The Premium and Premium+ memberships include a lot of additional features and range from $10.00 to $47.00 per month.

Sign up for a free GermanPod101 account to get a new German lesson every week.

LingQ

Best App to Read German Online

LingQ is an innovative language app that makes reading German interactive. From books and articles to podcasts and videos, you can convert anything into a German lesson automatically with LingQ.

There’s already quite a bit of German content already available. If you want even more though, you can import anything with a transcript into the LingQ app and it will create a lesson for you. It lets you read the transcript at your own speed, add new words to custom vocab lists, and also shows you words in different contexts.

Key Features

• Automatically create lessons from the content you love
• Add new vocab to your list and use flashcards to practice
• Easily see words used in different contexts
• Has a growing community that constantly adds new lessons

Pricing

LingQ offers both a free and premium account. You can access 5 lessons and look up 20 words with the free account. A premium account costs between $7.99 and $39.99 per month, depending on which features you’d like.

Try LingQ for free to read German like a native.

Busuu

Best App to Learn German Writing

Busuu has a complete German course to help you improve every one of your skills. The course is high quality and interactive, and helps you gain a deeper understanding of the language. Busuu really stands out in terms of writing though.

The Busuu app has a community of language learners that help others learn their native languages. This means that native German speakers will correct the writing exercises you submit during your lessons. To learn more, read through this review.

Key Features

• Complete course from beginner to conversational
• Fresh and engaging content to improve your communication skills
• Improve your writing skills and speaking skills simultaneously
• Native speakers help you express yourself more naturally

Pricing

Busuu offers a free account that gives you limited access to the German course. To access the entire course and additional features, a subscription starts at $9.99 per month.

Get a free Busuu account and learn to speak German more naturally.

Rocket Languages

Best App to Learn German Grammar

Rocket Languages has a complete German course that teaches you every aspect of the language. The focus is on becoming conversational, and the lessons help you achieve this by completing different activities.

One aspect of the Rocket Languages German course that stands out among other language learning apps is the way it teaches grammar. While other German learning apps expect you to memorize grammar rules, Rocket Languages teaches you the most useful grammar in a simple way. Then it has you practice it. Learn more about Rocket Languages’ courses in this review.

Key Features

• Complete the course at your own pace
• A lot of practice activities to reinforce what you learn
• Includes lessons about German culture to help you speak like a native
• Simple grammar explanations are easy to follow

Pricing

The Rocket Languages German course has 3 levels. Unlike other apps, you buy Rocket Languages courses upfront for lifetime access and don’t need a subscription. Level 1 costs $149.95, levels 1 and 2 together cost $299.90, and all 3 levels cost $449.85.

Rocket Languages also offers a free trial and 60-day money back guarantee to make sure you’re completely happy with the course.

Try Rocket Languages for free today to master German grammar.

FluentU

Best App for German Immersion Online

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the German language, FluentU is the best choice. It has a variety of videos straight from Germany and lets you jump right into listening to native German content.

Each video has subtitles and translations that follow the video automatically. If there’s a word you don’t know, you can click the subtitle to add it to your own vocab list. You can also review the definition and see other videos that use that word or phrase. Read more about FluentU’s features in this review.

Key Features

• Watch native German content to absorb the language
• Follow along with automatic subtitles and translations
• Easily grow your vocabulary with words you want to learn
• See how words and phrases are used in different contexts

Pricing

FluentU is a high quality app, but it does cost a little more than most other language apps. A monthly subscription to FluentU costs $30.00 or you can choose to pay $240.00 per year.

Sign up now and try FluentU free for 14 days!

Preply

Best German App for Talking to Natives

Preply is a platform that connects language learners to high quality tutors. It’s easy to find a tutor with Preply because you can filter them based on certain characteristics (similar to italki).

Speaking with natives is one of the best ways to achieve fluency in a language. Preply makes that possible for anybody with any budget. All tutors must apply to Preply, so you’re guaranteed only the best tutors. Read this Preply review to learn more about the platform.

Key Features

• Search and select high quality online German tutors
• Practice with a native speaker in a laid back and welcoming environment
• Preply vets all tutors and they must meet strict standards
• All tutors offer cheap trial lessons

Pricing

Pricing on Preply is different for every tutor because they set their own prices. Rates typically range from around $7.00 to $25.00 per hour. Every tutor also offers discounted trial lessons. If you’re not happy with a trial lesson, Preply will arrange a new one with a different tutor for free.

Take a discounted trial lesson on Preply to speak with a native German speaker.

Pimsleur

Best German App with Audio Lessons

Pimsleur is one of the most well-known brands in language learning, and for a good reason: its courses work. The app uses audio lessons to get you speaking in German within minutes.

Pimsleur gradually immerses you in more and more German as you go through the lessons, and it always builds on what you already know. Focusing on audio also has another advantage – you can take the lessons anywhere you want! This Pimsleur review tells you everything you need to know about the app.

Key Features

• The lessons are audio to help you start speaking fast
• Each lessons builds on what you already know
• The course is easy to follow and moves at a steady pace
• Take the lessons anywhere you want – at home, in the car, or even while exercising

Pricing

A subscription to the Pimsleur app costs between $14.95 and $19.95 per month. You can also choose to purchase lifetime access to the complete German course, which starts at $150.00.

Get a 7-day free trial of Pimsleur and start speaking German today.

Drops

Best App to Learn German Vocabulary

Drops is the best app to learn German vocabulary. It has a huge amount of vocabulary lists for you to learn, and the games and activities help you remember words and phrases long-term.

The way it works is this: Drops shows you a new word along with a unique animation. You then work through a series of activities to practice that word. Over time, Drops uses spaced repetition to help you review each word and commit it to your memory. It’s a pretty straightforward method, but it works really well. Read more about Drops and its other features in this review.

Key Features

• Beautiful app with a sleek design
• Thousands of useful words not included in other apps
• Animations are helpful for remembering words
• Set your own study time, starting at only 5 minutes per day

Pricing

Drops offers a free account that lets you practice German vocabulary for 5 minutes every day. To practice more, access all of the vocabulary lists, and use additional features, you can get a premium account. This starts at $9.99 per month but gets cheaper if you choose a longer subscription.

Sign up and try Drops for free for 5 minutes every day.

Rosetta Stone

Most Comprehensive German App

Rosetta Stone has been around for a long time, and that’s because it’s a solid, high-quality language learning app. It has continuously improved its courses over time, too.

The Rosetta Stone German course is both comprehensive and immersive. Its flexible structure also lets you learn German at your own pace. You won’t see any English when you use the app either, which is what makes it so good.

Rosetta Stone forces you to figure out what words mean and how to use them, which is exactly how you learned your native language. Learn more in this Rosetta Stone review.

Key Features

• Well-known and established language learning app
• Completely immersive but not intimidating or overwhelming
• Flexible and you can move at your own pace
• Lessons are short and manageable

Pricing

A subscription to the Rosetta Stone app costs $36.00 for 3 months. You can also choose a longer subscription and get a discount.

Sign up for a free 3-day trial to see if Rosetta Stone is a good fit for you.

Lingodeer

Best German App with Interactive Lessons

Lingodeer really stands out for its interactive and engaging lessons. It breaks down complex topics into fun, bite-size study sessions that you can complete whenever you want.

Because of the lesson structure, you’ll be able to communicate more confidently and effectively in German. You’ll also understand more complex grammar topics (and there are a lot of them in German!) more quickly. Read this Lingodeer review to learn more.

Key Features

• Fun and interactive lessons make learning German fun
• Understand grammar more quickly
• Improve all aspects of communication in German
• Real language teachers created the lessons

Pricing

A subscription to Lingodeer costs $13.99 per month, but you will pay a lot less if you subscribe for a longer period. You can also get a refund if you decide to cancel your Lingodeer subscription within the first 7 days, so there’s no risk if you want to test it out.

Give Lingodeer a try and take your first lesson for free.

Clozemaster

Best German App to Learn Words in Context

You can use a lot of words in different ways, and that’s one of the most difficult parts of learning a new language. That’s exactly what Clozemaster helps you with though.

The Clozemaster app has thousands and thousands of practice sentences to help you learn how to use words in different contexts. It’s set up like a game, and you can choose multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank to practice using words in different situations.

Its additional features also help you master more topics, like articles, verb tenses, and other grammar you need to know. You can read more about Clozemaster in this review.

Key Features

• Best way to learn words in different contexts
• Spaced repetition helps you remember words over time
• You’ll never run out of content – there are thousands of sentences
• Helps you speak more naturally and fluently

Pricing

Clozemaster has a free account that lets you access most of the word lists. Some of the more specialized lists and other features are available with a premium subscription. A Clozemaster Pro subscription costs $8.00 per month or $60.00 per year.

Duolingo

Best Free App to Learn German

Famous for its green owl mascot, Duolingo is the best app to learn German for free. It has an entire course full of lessons that help you learn the basics of the language.

It also helps you practice all aspects of communication (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). Overall, it’s a great way to build a solid foundation in the German language. Learn more about the app in this Duolingo review.

Key Features

• Completely free to use
• Offers entire course that covers a wide range of topics
• Designed like a game to make learning fun
• Adapts to you over time

Pricing

It’s completely free to sign up and use Duolingo to learn German, but it is ad-supported. This means advertisements will interrupt your learning every once in a while. To remove the ads and access additional features, you can subscribe to Duolingo Plus for $6.99 per month.

Try Duolingo Plus free for 14 days!

Der Die Das

Best App to Learn German Articles

It can be difficult for English speakers to master German articles, but you need to know them if you want to speak effectively. The Der Die Das app is perfect for memorizing and practicing articles for a variety of common words.

You can search over 17,000 words, learn helpful tips and tricks for knowing a word’s article, and play games to practice identifying the articles.

Key Features

• Dictionary has over 17,000 words
• Useful rules and guidelines to figure out the article of words
• Games to practice choosing the correct article
• Add words to your favorites for quick reference

Pricing

The Der Die Das app is completely free to use. To access additional features, there are purchases available in-app.

Master German articles with the Der Die Das app.

Why Should I Use an App to Learn German?

Using apps to learn German is a quick and easy way to learn the language. Instead of searching through websites or chapters in a text book, you can simply download an app and have a complete learning system at your fingertips.

Language apps also keep statistics on your progress, so you can always know what parts of a language still need work. They also have other features like instant messaging and video chats to help you practice real-time communication.

Apps are perfect for people who want to learn how to speak another language in different formats like articles, videos, interactive lessons, quizzes or games.

Best Apps to Learn German – Final Thoughts

The apps on this list are the top 17 apps to learn German. I’ve reviewed them based on their features and pricing in order to help you narrow down your options.

Check out some of these apps by taking advantage of their free trials to begin learning German! All you need is motivation and just a few minutes each day with one of these apps, soon enough you’ll be fluent in German.

Best Apps to Learn German FAQ